Forest official plays down Bullfrog decline

BY ARTI DAS
PANJIM: Claims made by environmentalists that the number of bullfrogs in the wild is on the decline were bared when it was discovered that no survey was ever conducted in the state.
Put simply, there is no hard data to back the claim that the bullfrog is an endangered species, at least in Goa.
Debendra Dalai, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Wildlife and Eco-Tourism said the department does not conduct surveys.
“It is the job of the researchers. Thus, we don’t have any data now. Also, our job is of execution and that we are doing by giving 100 per cent protection to all the species in the protected areas,” he added.
He said, that if any researcher wants to conduct any survey then the department is ready to co-operate.
According to Dr Manoj Borkar, Associate Professor and Head of Department, Zoology, Carmel College, Nuvem there are only gross unscientific observations about frogs in Goa.
“We need to encourage young biologists to conduct such research and even rope in young students in this process,” opined Dr Borkar.
He also informed that a few years ago Gautam Salelkar in Bhagvan Mahavir Wild Life Sanctuary and Mollem National Park conducted a study and it revealed that Goa is home to around 25 species of amphibians.
Nirmal Kulkarni, wildlife ecologist believes the prominent reason for no data compilation is because frogs are a lesser known species.
“We don’t have Project Frog like Project Tiger because their importance is not felt yet. On the contrary, these amphibians are the biggest indicators of climate change and global warming and not many people, including some researchers, do not understand that,” added Kulkarni.
However, non-availability of data does not mean that these creatures are not under threat.
“Frogs are wild animals and that’s the reason they are listed in the Wildlife Protection Act. Some species like Bull frog of Rana family are protected as they play very important role in a food chain,” claimed Dalai.
He further confirmed that there are indicators that the numbers of bullfrogs are dwindling. “Increase in vector borne diseases, influx of snakes (who survive on frogs) in human habitats are signs of it.”
Dr Borkar claims that there’s lot of pressure building up by way of exploitation as hardly any habitat is left for them. Also their wetlands are taken away.
“Activities like over grazing, poaching also contribute to depletion of frogs,” concluded Nirmal.